Miguel Tabuena’s stunning rise puts LIV Golf dream within reach

Just two weeks ago, Miguel Tabuena said the prospect of joining the LIV Golf League was “nowhere near my radar.” That changed dramatically after his victory at the International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus — one of the greatest achievements in Filipino golf history.

The win lifted Tabuena to second on The International Series Rankings, behind Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent, with only two events remaining: this week’s Moutai Singapore Open and the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers.

At the time of his win, only the top-ranked player was guaranteed a LIV Golf spot. But with a rule change announced this week, the top two will now qualify for next season’s league — making the Singapore event crucial for all contenders.

Two additional players will also earn LIV Golf berths through the LIV Golf Promotions event in January at Black Diamond Ranch in Florida. The top 10 exempt players from The International Series Rankings will skip directly to the second round, while the next 25 from within the top 40 will start from round one.

Among those chasing vital points are six Indians — Gaganjeet Bhullar, currently ranked 30th, along with S.S.P. Chawrasia, Shiv Kapur, Chikkarangappa S., Ajeetesh Sandhu, and Viraj Madappa — all needing strong performances this week in Singapore.

Reflecting on his sudden rise, Tabuena said:

“It was nowhere near my radar before the Philippines, for sure. But after that week at home, it certainly is. You can’t force it — you just stick to your process and let things happen.”

LIV Golf’s Paul Casey, who played alongside Tabuena at the Hong Kong Open, praised the Filipino’s progress.

“His game has matured and I don’t see any weakness,” Casey said. “It’s great to see players earn their way up — it makes the end of the season truly exciting.”

The Moutai Singapore Open runs from November 6–9 at the Singapore Island Country Club.

Photo – Miguel Tabuena/ Asian Tour